Fighters throw punches inside the cage, but sometimes the real fireworks happen afterward on social media. Alex Pereira just reminded everyone why he’s not someone you want to mess with, whether it’s in the octagon or on X. The Brazilian champion doesn’t talk much, but when he does, people listen. His latest target is Ali Abdelaziz, the controversial manager who represents dozens of fighters.
After beating Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 320, Pereira could have just enjoyed his victory and moved on. Instead, he decided to address Abdelaziz directly, and he went scorched earth on Ali Abdelaziz following the accusations and comments from the manager.
Pereira called out Abdelaziz for never being an athlete himself while profiting off fighters who risk their lives. The champion’s frustration was obvious, and his words cut deep. Pereira and many others in the MMA community have long accused Abdelaziz of posting on his fighters’ social media accounts without their knowledge, stirring up controversy to generate attention. Ankalaev’s pre-fight posts got plenty of attention, and now Pereira was making it clear he knew exactly who was behind them.
“When a manager has never been an athlete and wants to promote to gain fame and money, but you’re the one in there risking your life, and he’s outside laughing.”
Alex Pereira just WENT OFF on Ali Abdelaziz 😳
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 5, 2025
"When a manager has never been an athlete and wants to promote to gain fame and money, but you’re the one in there risking your life, and he’s outside laughing." #UFC320 pic.twitter.com/bB5kuHkClg
The champion’s frustration makes sense when fans consider the buildup to UFC 320. Ankalaev’s social media went into overdrive with posts aimed at Pereira, some of them pretty harsh. Many fans and fighters suspected Abdelaziz was the real author behind those messages, using his client’s account to generate buzz. Pereira clearly believed the same thing. He wasn’t angry at Ankalaev, but he was furious with the manager pulling strings behind the scenes.
Ali Abdelaziz didn’t stay quiet for long. He responded by defending his approach to the fight business and reminding everyone of his background. Abdelaziz admitted that if people get their feelings hurt in this business, they should just beat it. He drew his usual line about respecting family, religion, and nationality but everything else being fair game. Then he dropped his credentials: two black belts in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu under Renzo Gracie, plus competition experience in both Judo and MMA.
“About me doing sports or not doing sports, this is irrelevant. But, I have two black belts in Judo and Jiu-Jitsu under Master Henzo Gracie. And I also competed in Judo and MMA.
Ali Abdelaziz hints that Magomed Ankalaev went into last night’s fight against Alex Pereira physically compromised 😬
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) October 6, 2025
"Saturday night, Magomed Ankalaev fought Alex Pereira. In the rematch, and Alex Pereira won. Congratulations to him and his team. I know his coaches, managers,… pic.twitter.com/QdRUhpWH3H
Abdelaziz clearly felt Pereira’s comments questioned his legitimacy in the sport. By mentioning his martial arts background, he tried to prove he’s not just some suit collecting checks. He’s been in gyms, trained hard, and understands combat sports from personal experience. Whether that’s enough to satisfy Pereira and his critics remains another question entirely!
(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)
mma I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!
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